Spraying device



i May 2l, 1929. A. s. Mol-ams 1,714,232

1 SPRAYING lDEVICE Filed March 22, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l 23 AQMMMLLS) SPRAYING DEV I'GE Filed March 22, 1923 2-Sheets-Sheet 2 abbina,

@2 we M4227 Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTHONY sAUNDnRs MORRIS, or HAVEN-FORD, PENNSYLVANIA, VAssIeNoR v:ro goREssoN-Js/IORRIsv COMPANY, or PHILADELPHIA, PNNNsYINANIA, A ConroRA TION yPENNSYLVANIA.

` SPRAYING DEVICE.'

Application filed March 22, 1923. semi No. 626,918.

This vinvention -relates to vspraying devices and. it comprises a tank having a liquid outlet, connections for directing the liquid to a point of use, an inletto the tank, automatic means for controlling admission of liquid into the tank, means for admitting fluid such as air under pressure to the tank to eX- pel the liquid therefrom ythrough the liquid outlet and means arranged to place the tank in communication with the atmosphere. when a predetermined amount of liquid has been delivered therefrom, whereby the automatic means aforesaid may function to fill the tank, the connections for delivering ythe liquid tothe point ofuse having advantageously spray nozzle connections and having means arranged to position the spray nozzles in different. positions, such, for instance, as into and out of a centrifugal, and the positioning means for the spray nozzles advantageously operating to permit the admission of the fluid underpressure tothe tank when the sprayingnozzles are in spraying position and to prevent admission ofthe fluid under pressure and place the tank in communication with the atmosphere when the spraying nozzles are in another position; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed. .Y

The invention also comprises improve-Y ments in spraying mechanism for receptacles such as centrifugals and certain simple combinationsiof elements arranged for easy op-v eration to deliver to the spraying device a predetermined amount of liquid.

At `one stage in the operation of making sugar and ott' refining sugar, the sugar is purged-,the mixture of crystallized sugar and molasses is placed in the centrifugal basket and the machine put in motion to eX- pel the molasses. Sometimes the molasses is that occurring with the sugar `in the massecuite as it is delivered from the lvacuum pans; sometimes more molasses is added.

of sugar in the basket is then washed withv some spraying liquid, suchas sugar sirup, water, etc., the basket is then stopped and the sugar is discharged. In modern practice the whole cycle is,-ofcourse, conducted 'as rapidly as possible.` SometimestheV cycle canbe speeded up so as not totake more than three or four minutes and occasionally as short a time as 2.5 minutes has been found practical. The element of time is quite important; and it .is the object of the present' invention to provide mechanism whereby the washing or. spraying part of the operation can be Aconducted with a minimum amount of labor and attention and in the shortest possible. time. To this endA I provide `a tank or receptacle for containingr washingliquid; ordinarily either water or a White Sirup. As far as my invention is concerned, the particular liquid which 'is used for washing issnot material. To this tank I connect means for introducing air, advantageously under ratheriheavy pressure; say 45- pounds vgage or thereabouts. In "washing it is an'object to subdivide the washing liquor as tar aspossible, getting a uniform permeation of the wall of sugar in the whirling basket vwith as little liquid as may be.

While it is desirable to wash the sugar thoroughly, 1t 1s also Vdesirabie` not to useany more liquid than is absolutely Aneces'sary'for the reason that washing is'attended` with' some solution loss. Where ,water is used for washing, this loss is, naturally,A greater than where sirup is used;` but on the other.hand,= where sirup isused 1t 1s ydeteriorated 1nv quality to the extent that itftakes upfmo- It' is notdesirable touse either inV supply with valving so arranged that when the air pressure is shut off, vthe aircinthe tank can` be allowed to escape and solution allowed lto enter under such pressure as it may have. lFrom this tank I draw the Wash* ing liquid under the air pressure and lead it to a suitablenozzle mounted so as to enable it tovbe swung into placel inthe centrifugal at the stage when Washing is necessary and then swung out again. The motion of the spray nozzle kinto and out of the centriff ugal may, by suitable. linking, be caused to actuate the stated valve. In washing the sugar wall it-is also highly-'desirable that a rather definite quantity of liquid be emlos Avided the ployed, neither' more nor less; the object being of course to use as much as may be necessary and no more. Therefore I provide a tank with adjustable means whereby the amount of discharge of liquid in the tank can be regulated, using a sort of bell are rangement covering a discharge pipe extend ing to a high point in the tank. Then the air pressure forces the level of t-he liquid below the lower end of the bell, air enters and the iiow of liquid ceases. Y

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a specific embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the supply tank, a segmental view of the centrifugal and the pipe. connections;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the centrifugal of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the water tank at right angles to the water tank of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section along line 44 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is an enlarged segmental vertical section through the tank showing the regulating means; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section through one type of three-way valve which may be used.

Referring to the drawings in `which similar reference. numerals designate corresponding parts 1 designates the outer wall of a centrifugal, such as used in centrifuging sugar and the like, while 2 indicates the screen or basket. of the type customarily used. The screen is revolved by means of shaft 3 operated from a source of power not shown. y

For the purpose of washing the sugar on the inner-walls of the screen there is prospraying mechanism shown, adapted to be lowered into the centrifugal inside the screen 'to direct the water under pressure t-owards the wall thereof and adapted to be raised from the centrifugal when not in use. The spraying device comprises the pipe 4 carrying a plurality of spraying nozzles 5 arranged to throw a` line spray of water under the pressure prevail-v ing in the tank as hereafter described. 'lhe pipe 4 is preferably adjustably secured to the section 6 to which is attached the flexible connection such as a hose or the like leading to the elbow 8 which in turn is connected to the pipe 9 attached to the bot-toni of the tank at 10. On the connection 6 are provided a plurality of ears 11 to which are pivoted a plurality of links 12 (two being suilicient). These links constitute parallel arms which are pivoted at 13 to the standard 14 mounted on top of the centrifugal. The connection 6 is further provided with an ear' or lug 15 to which the handle 1G may be secured, the handle serving for lowering and raising the spray nozzles into and out of the centrifugal. The shaft 17 of the upper link 12 passes through trunnion 18 on the standard 14 and has keyed to it the arm 19 carrying counter balance 20 which may be adjusted on the arm 19 in balancing position by means of the set screw 21.

The shaft 17 extends into the valve casing 22, such easing containing a. three-way valvev operated by this shaft. In some cases, as wherethe shaft of the centrifugal is provided with a distributing disk, it is inconvenient to remove the nozzles from vthe centrifugal. Therefore l provide means for operating the valve without the necessity of removing the spray nozzles. The three-way valve shown in Fig. G may be provided with a handle opposite the shaft 17 for turning the valve or, advantageously, the upper arm 12 of the spray nozzle may be disconnected at the upper' ear 11. This arm may serve as a. handle for operating the valve. Connected to the valve casing are the pressure pipe 23, the tank pipe 24 and the exhaust pipe 25, and the valve which may be of known construction is arranged so that, when the spraying device is lowered into the machine, pressure may reach the tankl through pipes 23 and 24 but when the spraying device is removed from the centrifugal the pressure to the tank is cut off and air in the tank may pass from pipe 24 to exhaust or to the atmosphere through pipe 25.

Raising or lowering the spraying device from and into the receptacle cuts olf the pressure to the tank or turns it on as the case may be. The pipe 23 may lead to a source of air under pressure or direct to a compressor or the like.

The tank 2G is usually made of a capacity to hold the amount of water necessary "for washing the sugar in a given centrifugal. However, the amount of water delivered from the tank to the centrifugal upon the operation of the spraying device may be governed by the means to be described. The water from the tank is driven out of it by means of the air admitted to it through the operation of the spraying device as described and this water will continue to flowv out of the tank and through the spray nozzles as long as Vthere is a seal of water betweenthe pipes 27 and the elongated bell 23. The pipe 27 inside the tank is in communication with the pipe 9 leading to the spray nozzles. This pipe 27 extends upwardly in the tank to a point near the top and is surrounded by the adjustable closed sleeve or bell 28. This bell 28 is provided at its upper end 29 with a stem 30 in sleeve 31 secured to the top of the tank at 32. The top of the sleeve 31 is provided with the plate 33V and corresponding plate 34 and inthe plate 34 is provided yielding packing 35 through whichy the stem extends. Above the plate 7 34 and the packing-is a third plate 3G having the downwardly projecting portion'37 and provided with bolts 38 screwing into the plate 34. f .v

In order to adjust the bell 28 with respect tothe pipe 27, the stem 30 is raised or lowered and when in adjusted `position is secured there by means of the nut on bolts 3S which pull the plate 36 downwardly and cause the projection 37 to. bear-upon the yielding packing 35 to grip the stem 30.

The position of the bell 28..,with respect to the pipe 27 determines vthe amount of water delivercd'to the centrifugal when the nozzles are in spraying position. lf the, water in the tank should be below level of the end of VThe water flows past this valve throughpipe 43 into the tank. The valve 42 is automatically operated by means of the oat `44 (shown in Figures 3 and 4). The float is mounted on spider arms 45 provided with a rod 4G keyed at- 47 to shaft 48. This shaft 4S is j ournaled at the top of the tank in journals 49 and passes through oneendof* the tank throughstufling-box V50. The shaft 48 at the end which passes through the tank is provided witlia rodl pivoted to a link 52 which in turn is pivoted to 'the second link 53 passing through-guides 54 and pivoted to the top of the valve stem 55 at one point and to the bracket 56 near its end. As

the water is delivered from the tank the float descends and as soon as pressure ceases to exist in the tanland as soon as the tank is opened to the atmosphere water flows past the check valve 41 and valve 42 into the tank, valve 42 now being open because of the low position of they float controlling the valve. As the water enters the tank the float rises and when the float has risen to such a point that the valve 42 is closed, water ceases to enter the tank. The water is discharged from the tank yupon the lowering of the spray 4nozzles which admit air under pressure to the tank through lines 23 and 24.y The line 24 advantageously terminates in the upper portion of the tank at a point above the normal level of the water therein.

What l claim is l. Spraying apparatus comprising a spraying device adapted to be vertically raised and lowered, a liquid supply tank and connection between the .supplytank and the said device, means for admitting fluid under vpressure to said tank to expel the liquid therefrom through the said connection Y andto the spraying device, means for cut# ting off the'supply of fluid under pressure to said tank, means' opera-ted by thefraising of the said spraying device for venting the tank to the atmosphere and automatic means for supplying the tank with the liquid when the tank is vented tothe atmosphere. I

2. ,Spraying apparatus: comprising a spraying device adapted to be vertically raised and lowered, a. liquid supply tank and a connection betweenv the lsupply tank and said device, means for admitting fluid undcr pressure to said tank to expel the liquid therefrom through the said connection and to tliiespraying device, means for cutting off thevsupply offluid under pressure to said tank, means actuated by the raising ofthe spraying device for venting the tank-to the atmosphere Vand float-controlledmeans for controlling ie supply of liquid to said tank.

3. Spraying apparatus comprising a spraying device adapted to be raised and lowercd,a liquid supply tank'and a con# nection between the supply tank andthe said spraying device, a connection leading from the tank and to a source of fluid under pressure, a 3`-w`ay valve in said connection, one port of said valve leading to theatmosphare, another port leading .to the-'connection from the tank, andthe third portleading to the source of fluid under pressure,

whereby manipulationV of the valve will establish communication between the source of the tank and the atmosphere, and means con-` nected witlit'he spraying device 'operating the said valve to establish communication between the source of fluid under pressure and the tank when the spraying device is lowered and for establishing communication between the tank and the atmosphere whenv source of fluid Linder pressure, wherebyy manipulation of the valve willestablish communication between the source of fluid under pressure and the tankor between the tank and the atmosphere, means connected with the spraying device operating the said valve to establish communication between the source of fluid under pressure and the tank when the spraying device is lowered and for fluid under pressure andthe tank or-between establishing communication between the tank and the atmosphere when the spraying, device is raised, and automatic means in the tank yto admitfluid thereto when the tank is'placed in communication with the atmosphere.

5. Apparatus for delivering liquid under pressure, comprising a tank having a liquid delivery outlet, means for admitting,- air under pressure thereto, means for venting the tank to the atmosphere to permit delivering liquid thereto when the air under pressure has been cut oill land means for regu-v lating,I the amount ot` liquid discharged from the tank, said means comprising' an upright pipe in the tank connected to the liquid outlet thereof and a vertically adjustable bell surrounding said upright pipe, saidL vertically adjustable bell` having a horizontal end and said upright pipe having a horizontal top.

.6. In a spraying apparatus a liquid supply tank, a connection from said tank to a source ot fluid under pressure, a connection from said tank to a source'of liquid supply, means operative only When a predetermined minimum level of liquid is reached in said supply tank for admitting additional liquid thereto from the source of supply, a sprayingdevice, means caused by movement of said spraying device for controlling.;l the flow ot liquid from the liquidsupply tank to the spraying device, said means simultaneously preventing a refilling of said liquid supply tank regardless of the condition of said first-named means When liquid is passing,r through `the said spraying` device.

7. Sprayingapparatus comprising aV spraying device, a liquid supply tank and a connection between said supply tank andthe said device, means for admittingI fluid under pressure to said tank to expel liquid therefrom through the said connection and to the sprayingdevice, means actuated by movement of said spraying device for controlling the flow of liquid therefrom and for venting the liquid supply tank When the flow or" liquid through the spraying device is stopped,and additional means for preventing re-filling of said liquid supply tank from a source ot supply until it has been vented to the atmosphere by movement oi the spraying device to stop the flow ot liquid therethrough.

8. Sprayingl apparat-us comprising a spraying;` devi( e, a liquid supply tank, a connection between the spraying device and tank, a valve operable by movement of the spraying device, said valve, When the spraying device is in one position admitting fluid under pressure to the tank to cause a fioW of liquid therefrom to the spraying device, said valve, when the spraying device is in another position venting the tank to the atmosphere, a pipe line for admitting liquid to the tank,a second valve for opening and closing said pipe line, said second valve opening` to admit liquid through the pipe line to the tank only when the liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level, and an additional valve in said pipe line opening only When thel tank has been vented to the atmosphere. Y

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

A. SAUNDERSV MORRIS.

Cil 

